The Egyptian

Egyptian ( The Egyptian ) is an American film of Michael Curtiz released in 1954 . It is a free adaptation of the novel Sinouhe the Egyptian of the Finnish writer Mika Waltaripublished in 1945.

Synopsis

Thirteen centuries before our era, in Egypt . Sinouhé, abandoned child, is brought up by a doctor who transmits to him his vocation and his science. As an adult, he moved to Thebes and put his medical skills at the service of the poorest. One day, in the desert, Sinouhe and his friend, the ambitious Horemheb , save from the claws of a lion a stranger in prayer. This man is none other than the pharaoh Akhenaton. As a sign of gratitude, he names Horemheb guard officer and Sinouhe doctor of the Palace. To celebrate this happy event, the two men go to a house of pleasure held by the beautiful and mysterious Nefer. Sinouhé succumbs to the charm of the courtesan. But behind the perfect plastic of the young woman, hides a greedy soul, devoid of any human feeling.

Technical sheet

Title: The Egyptian

Original title: The Egyptian

Director: Michael Curtiz , assisted by Ray Kellogg (uncredited)

Production: Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century Fox

Scenario: Philip Dunne and Casey Robinson after the novel Sinouhé, the Egyptian “Myrina” by Mika Waltari

Music: Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann

Photography: Leon Shamroy

Artistic direction: Lyle Wheeler and George W. Davis

Costumes: Kay Nelson

Editing: Barbara McLean

Country of origin: United States

Language: English

Format: Color DeLuxe Cinemascope

Genre: Peplum

Duration: 139 minutes

Release dates:

August 24 , 1954

February 11 , 1955

Distribution

Jean Simmons (VF: Nelly Benedetti ) : Merit

Victor Mature (VF: Jacques Erwin ) : Horemheb

Gene Tierney (VF: Françoise Gaudray) : Baketamon

Michael Wilding (VF: Jacques François ) : Akhenaton

Edmund Purdom (VF: André Falcon ) : Sinouhe

Bella Darvi (VF: Bella Darvi ) : Nefer

Peter Ustinov (VF: Stéphane Audel ) : Kaptah

Judith Evelyn (VF: Marie Francey ) : Tiyi, the queen mother

Anitra Stevens : Nefertiti

John Carradine : The Tomb Raider

Henry Daniell (VF: Claude Péran ) : Mekere, high priest

Carl Benton Reid (VF: Paul City ) : Senmut, father of Sinouhé

Mike Mazurki (VF: Pierre Morin ) : Foreman of the House of the Dead

Michael Ansara (VF: Marcel Raine ) : Hittite commander

Ian MacDonald (VF: Pierre Morin ) : Commanding Officer

Tommy Rettig (VF: Linette Lemercier ) : Thoth, son of Mérit

Angela Clarke (uncredited): Kipa

Around the film

Marlon Brando was supposed to be the male lead in the film but, unconvinced by the screenplay and the fact that producer Darryl Zanuck imposed his mistress Bella Darvi in a role originally planned for Marilyn Monroe , the actor is desist in extremis . The Briton Edmund Purdom , revealed shortly before by The Student Prince , is then hired to replace Brando 1 .